New Zealand’s women’s cricket team cruised to a commanding victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I, thanks to a stellar opening partnership between Amelia Kerr and Isabella Gaze. The duo added 163 runs for the opening wicket, setting a record for New Zealand in T20Is and handing the visitors a heavy defeat.
Openers Kerr and Gaze came out all guns blazing, following up on their record-breaking performance from the first game. Kerr, playing as a full-time New Zealand captain for only the second match, scored a brisk 82 off 52 balls, while Gaze remained unbeaten on 85 from just 54 deliveries. Their partnership not only built a massive platform for the middle order but also broke the record for the second-highest opening stand for New Zealand in T20Is.
This explosive start set New Zealand up for a total of 196 for 1 in their 20 overs. After Gaze was finally dismissed, the team only added 33 more runs in the last 23 balls, with Izzy Sharp finishing unbeaten on 22, ensuring a formidable total for Zimbabwe to chase.
Zimbabwe, touring New Zealand for the first time, struggled to cope with the onslaught. They lost early wickets and could only muster 86 runs, falling short by a staggering 110 runs. The win sealed the three-match series 2-0 in New Zealand’s favor, leaving the visitors searching for answers before the final game.
Kerr and Gaze’s consistency at the top has now become a key strength for New Zealand, and if their opening pairs keep firing, the team could be unstoppable in the remaining fixtures. As for Zimbabwe, they’ll need to regroup and rethink strategies fast if they hope to avoid a clean sweep in the series finale.